What Will the Millennium Be Like?

(Day 3—FOT)

Fred R. Coulter—October 2, 2023

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Greetings everyone, welcome to Day 3 of the Feast of Tabernacles

What will the Millennium be like? That's an interesting question, because as we will see, there are several categories that fit into the Millennium.

We know from Rev. 20 that it says that those of the first resurrection are Blessed and Holy! That means they will be the spirit sons and daughters of God! They will rule and reign with Christ a thousand years! Just think what that's going to produce. That's likely going to be more productive than the 6,000 years-plus leading up to the Millennium!

We know that Christ will be King; He is going to rule from Jerusalem. Now let's see a very interesting prophecy of what will be at Jerusalem. It's not going to be any little teeny temple made of stone like you see in Ezek. 40 onward.

That is actually a description for the temple to be built when they came out of captivity from Babylon, because any Temple of God must be built according to God's instructions.

That's why the temple that's coming in Jerusalem here in a very short while, though it's called the Temple of God, is not the Temple of God.

Let's see what it's going to be like when the Millennium begins. Christ and the saints all coming back to the Mount of Olives, and everything begins at that point. As we saw yesterday, many nations will say, come let us go up to the House of the Lord and He will teach us of His Law and of His Way; for the Law shall go out from the Lord to all the earth!

When we come to Isa. 4, God just gives us two little Scriptures to define what kind of tabernacle—not temple—God is going to set up in Jerusalem! It's going to be awesome. As we saw, when the saints and Christ come back to the earth, the whole Mount of Olives is going to be split in two and it's going to create a magnificent area there for the new Tabernacle of God!

Isaiah 4:5: "And the LORD will create over every dwelling place of Mount Zion..."

That's right there where the tabernacle is going to be, and it's going to be a mammoth tabernacle!

"…and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day…" (v 5).

That's exactly what God did in bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt. There was the pillar of cloud by day. That noted that:

• God is here
• God is ruler
• God is leader

God knows everything that goes on!

"…and the shining of a flaming fire by night…" (v 5).

Just exactly as it was in the exodus, only greater, more awesome indeed. Think what people are going to understand and feel when they see. Now, the physical people will not be able to go into Jerusalem on the earth.

When New Jerusalem comes down from heaven it's another whole story which we will cover on the eighth day.

"…for over all the glory shall be a canopy" (v 5).

A great canopy, because Christ is going to be living there. The Father will remain in heaven and He does not come to the earth until the earth is reconfigured again into the New Heavens and the New Earth.

What's going to happen there, just to project ahead, when the Lake of Fire destroys the wicked, then the fire is going to consume the whole earth and melt all the elements and form the New Heaven and the New Earth.

So, this one here is what's going to be during the Millennium. It will always be there by day, by night, and God's rule over the world will be absolute.

Verse 6[transcriber's correction]: "And there shall be a tabernacle for shade by day from the heat, and for refuge, and for shelter from storm and rain."

We don't know who all is going to be there. We don't know how all of that's going to be, but we do know that Rev. 2 applies to all of the Churches. The message to all of the Churches where there are the seven churches pertains to all of them, as well, because of what Jesus says.

Now let's understand that today we are building the character of God for the first resurrection! Then when we're changed 'in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye at the last trump,' we become the spirit sons of daughters and we are taken to the Sea of Glass. We are instructed for the four months on what we're going to do, and then we come back to the earth.

We're not all going to remain in that area. We're all going to have our assignments given to us while we're on the Sea of Glass, and we will know what we are to do.

We know from the Parable of the Pounds and the Parable of the Talents that there's going to be given rulership over every city and every town. We also know that there's going to be rulership over every one of the nations.

Rev. 2—to the church of Thyatira. They had their problems and difficulties and a lot of suffering and a lot of martyrdom in that phase of the Church, and we're looking forward for that same kind of thing at the end-time. We can see the resistance mounting now and by the degradation of anything that is Christian.

Christ says concerning this wicked system of the world, that it has been taught by Jezebel, and that Jezebel represents the Catholic Church and all the religions of the world!

Revelation 2:23: "And I will kill her children with death… [IF they don't repent, there's death] …and all the churches shall know that I am He Who searches the reins and hearts; and I will give to each of you according to your works."

This is the message to all seven churches! Then there are seven parts of that overall message to each of the Churches!

Verse 24: "But to you I say, and to the rest who are in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine…"

• of the false Christ
• of false salvation
• of the hierarchy
• of idolatry
• of the absolute wrong thing concerning the Passover and keeping the commandments of God

"…and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak…" (v 24).

That's quite a statement, that there were some who were taken out of the Church and led into the depths of Satan!

Do we have that as a possibility today with everything that's going on? Absolutely! What they're trying to do is bring as much of the depths of Satan to the surface to be accepted as normal as possible.

"…and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will not cast upon you any other burden, but hold fast what you have until I come. And to the one who overcomes…" (vs 24-26).

Now listen carefully, this has a great deal of meaning: "…the one who overcomes…" means:

• self
• sin
• Satan
• society

Verse 26: "And to the one who overcomes and keeps My works unto the end…"

Remember how we've covered in different messages about having our hearts fixed? Well this verifies that, as well.

"…I will give authority over the nations" (v 26).

There are various layers of authority in each one of the nations. All of those positions will be filled by the resurrected saints of God.

Verse 27: "And he shall shepherd them with an iron rod…"

• it's going to be firm
• it's going to be strong
• it's going to be demanding

Yet, with love and mercy and Truth! And always repentance!

"…as vessels of pottery are broken in pieces; as I have also received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star…. [eternal life] …The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches" (vs 27-29)—so that we can be partakers of it!

Isa. 60—let's see how this is going to come about. Then we'll look over at Isa. 61 where we are called 'the ministers of God.'

• doing God's will
• bringing about God's way
• coming to understand the Truth even more than what we have now
  • we're going to lead
  • we're going to teach
  • we're going to judge
  • we're going to rule

All of those things are there!

Now let's what the society is going to be like. Let's see how it's going to be for the people. Also commingled in this is what it means for us as we serve as rulers, priests and servants for the people during the Millennium.

It shows what it's going to be like because the earth is going to reach spiritually its darkest moments before the return of Christ.

Isaiah 60:1: "Arise, shine; for your Light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you… [the return of Christ and the saints] …for behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the LORD shall arise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon you" (vs 1-2). Now there are two things that applies to:

• to the people

They will see it when Christ and the saints come!

• to us receiving the glory of God in our personal immortal bodies

Verse 3: "And the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."

That can be applied to all the people on earth coming to know the way of God, and also for us coming to Christ.

Verse 4: "Lift up your eyes all around, and see. All of them gather themselves together; they come to you. Your sons shall come from far, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall throb and swell for joy; because the abundance of the sea shall turn to you, the wealth of the Gentiles will come to you" (vs 4-5).

• this applies to the individuals on the earth
• this applies to Israel and the physical people on the earth

So, there are layers and classes of this!

• it applies to us as we serve and teach the people.

This is going to be a great thing indeed it's going to happen here.

Verse 10: "And the sons of strangers shall build up your walls, and their kings shall serve you; for in My wrath I struck you, but in My grace I had mercy upon you."

That's going to show the loving part of God. Those who enter into the Millennium as physical beings go through a lot of terrible things.

The greatest thing that is going to happen they're going to receive the grace of God and have salvation open to them and we're going to teach them.

Verse 11: "Therefore, your gates will always be open; they will not be shut day nor night, that men may bring unto you the wealth of the Gentiles, and their kings in procession."

How all of that works we don't know, but we know:

• that we're co-inheritors with Christ
• that we will probably receive tithes and offerings
• that we will bring those our tithes and offerings up to Jerusalem, as well

So. this is going to be quite a tremendous thing that's going to happen!

Here is the rod of iron (v 12), because there will be no toleration of living in sin. We'll see that a little later.

Verse 12: "For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you will perish…. [that's going to happen if they don't obey] …Yes, those nations will be completely wasted." Think of that! Keep that in mind!

Verse 13: "The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box tree together, to beautify the place of My sanctuary; and I will make the place of My feet glorious. Also, the sons of your afflicters shall come bowing down to you; and all your despisers will bow down at the soles of your feet. And they will call you, 'The city of the LORD, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel'" (vs 13-14).

That's referring to us as they come. and also referring to what happens when people come toward the Tabernacle of God.

Verse 15: "Instead of being forsaken and hated, so that no one passes through, I will make you an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations."

That's how it's going to be! How many generations are there going to be during the Millennium? We don't know! But "…of many generations."

This refers to us and how we will be receiving what God wants us to from the people, because everyone's going to give. Everyone's going to tithe. We will manage that and send it on up to Jerusalem, as well.

Verse 16: "You will also suck the milk of nations, and suck the breast of kings; and you shall know that I the LORD am your Savior and your Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob."

That applies to us in relationship that we have with Jesus Christ. This applies to the nations when they're converted. When God brings a blessing upon them. When they have all of the produce they have all of the things that they have. They will increase in wealth. It will make the things that have been done or prior to that seem like just trash.

Here's how it's going to be: The greatest economic stability for a thousand years without a depression. That will be because we will follow the seven year release, the seven year land rest. and the 50th year Jubilee.

That keeps the economy at a steady level of growth and increase. Remember that it says, 'and of the increase of His Government there shall be no end.' So, this is going to build all during the Millennium

This tells us a little bit about the financial system. We don't know exactly how it's going to be, but there will be a financial system.

Verse 17: "For bronze I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver; and for wood I will bring bronze, and for stones, iron. I will also make your overseers to be peace, and your rulers to be righteousness."

That's us serving the people during the Millennium; what a thing that's going to be! Look at that right here: Brethren, let's understand something: Clearly the Bible is so awesome and so fantastic and inspired in such a way that it tells us in advance everything that God is going to do.

But we won't understand that unless we love Him and obey Him and have Jesus Christ as our Head of the Church and that we develop the mind of Christ and that we attain to the first resurrection.

But this is awesome! Think about this! Think about people who know nothing about what we know and they pick up a Bible and start reading and think about this:

• I wonder what that means.
• I wonder how is this going to be?

They look back in the history of the world and it's been nothing but:

• war
• problems
• troubles
• collapses of nations, empires and cities
• famine and starvation

everything that has been the result of Satan's rule over the earth!

Verse 18: "Violence…" no more crime!

Not like we see today; violence and crime are the result of sin and rejecting God! The reason that these things are going to be like this is because Satan will not be around.

Oh, we're going to have to deal with sin, yes indeed! We're going to have to deal with how do we help people overcome the sin. There will be some as we will see who will choose not to go the way of God, in spite of everything we're reading here of how great it's going to be.

So it also tells you that physical things, as good as they may be, are only worthwhile when you are right with God. Otherwise it leads to destruction.

Verse 18: "Violence will no more be heard in your land, neither wasting nor ruin within your borders; but you will call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise"—because:

• Christ is ruling
• the saints are ruling
• the patriarchs are running the whole world from the tabernacle in Jerusalem

Quite a thing indeed! All of the patriarchs of old will be right there with Christ.

Verse 19: "The sun will no more be your light by day; nor the brightness of the moon give light to you; but the LORD will be to you for an everlasting Light, and your God your glory."

That applies to us as saints, as we're ruling. It applies to those physical people during the Millennium who become converted. Of course, the vast majority will.

Verse 20: "Your sun will no more go down, nor your moon withdraw; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended. Your people also will all be righteous…" (vs 20-21).

We'll talk about that a little bit later, about how the righteous rule and judge!

Verse 21: "Your people also will all be righteous…"

A lot different from today. We can't imagine a society, a community, a nation, the world:

• all loving God and keeping His commandments
• all being ruled over and taught by the spiritual sons and daughters of God
  • who were resurrected from the dead
  • who are the firstfruits of God
  • who are the firstborn into the Kingdom of God

All of that is tied together as we read Isa. 60!

Verse 21: "Your people also will all be righteous; they will inherit the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, so that I may be glorified." In other words, all of this is talking about:

• conversion
• growth
• overcoming,
• people attaining to receiving eternal life

We'll talk about that in a bit, how that's going to happen, because it's going to be quite a thing indeed. Then we'll talk about there will be free moral agency and what's going to happen if there are rebels.

Verse 22: "A smallest will become a thousand, and the least one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in its time."

That is according to the timeframe of God! Quite an amazing, amazing thing! What is all of this? All of this is called the restoration of all things (Acts 3).

That's when Christ is going to return and what He's going to bring.

Let's see what God says about this in Jer. 30/31; this shows God's promise to bring Israel back to their lands.

A lot of people think it's only going to be in the Middle East. That is not true because what God told Abraham was to 'look to the North, look to the South, look to the East and look to the West.' Look where modern Israel is today. So, here's what God says is going to happen to them.

Speaking of Israel, God says, after the correction of the Tribulation and the return of Christ:

Jeremiah 30:22: "'And you shall be My people, and I will be your God.' Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD'S wrath goes forth, a sweeping whirlwind; it shall whirl on the head of the wicked."

That's what's going to happen, getting rid of all of the wicked as the Millennium is set up.

Verse 24: "The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return until He has done it… [because there will not be any rebellion and uprising against God during the Millennium] …and until He has fulfilled the purposes of His heart. In the latter days you shall understand it."

Now then, He says He's going to bring back Israel from the North, from the South, from the East, from the West (Jer. 31).

Let's understand why God is doing all of this, even in His anger. When you stop and consider it, having the second resurrection shows a great deal of the love of God!That comes after the Millennium is finished, so we're a little ahead of ourselves.

Jeremiah 31: "'At that time,' says the LORD, 'I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.'"

Then likewise with every nation, all the nations that come to Jerusalem to learn of God's way, they will be His people, all the strong nations that are slow to repent, He's going to bring plagues upon them, and especially Gog and Magog, until they repent.

Verse 2: "Thus says the LORD, 'The people who were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I will go to give him rest.'…. [bring him into the Millennium] …The LORD has appeared to me from afar, saying, 'Yea, I have loved you….'" (vs 2-3).

He's talking about Israel, and then this applies to all of those who are converted now and are called the saints of God.

"…'Yea, I have loved you with an everlasting love…'" (v 3).

Everlasting is not unconditional, and that's what's wrong with the world's religion today.

"…therefore, with loving kindness I have drawn you. Again, I will build you…" (vs 3-4)—and I will make you great again!

Let's see some other things concerning the worship of God and concerning the power of God, which will involve us and also the people.

Let's come to Psalm 105. This is going to be quite a thing. We will see some things. Actually, I've done messages in the past:

• the Millennium in the Psalms
• the Millennium in Isaiah

because both of them have so much concerning the Millennium in the Kingdom of God.

Now, in many of these things we're going to read now, that can apply to the people, the physical people who are in the Millennium. Also to the resurrected saints who are the rulers and priests of the world in our relationship to God.

Psalm 105:1: O give thanks unto the LORD! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the people. Sing to Him, sing praises unto Him; talk of all His wonderful works" (vs 1-2).

We are going to learn the things of creation that we have never understood. Just like I have mentioned before, concerning the James Webb Telescope. If you have a computer, go online and subscribe to their website so you can see the awesome pictures of the universe, things that only God has seen.

Yet, there are a whole lot more out there that we can't even see with even whatever equipment we have to try to see it, which tells us how fantastic God is.

Verse 3: "Glory in His Holy name; let the heart of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face evermore" (vs 3-4).

That'll apply to those in the Millennium, and that will apply to us as spirit beings to serving and loving God, and then ruling over the people. That's an amazing thing. Look at what that's going to be like.

Think about this. Now, when I read Psa. 113 I was thinking: What is it going to be like when we are able to come to Jerusalem and come to the big tabernacle that is there, and be able to come in and talk with Jesus face-to-face. And Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets. Think about what they can teach us and tell us.

Psalm 113:1: "O praise the LORD! Give praise to the LORD, O you servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD."

We must maintain our relationship with God as spirit beings in order to help the people maintain their relationship with us and with God. There it is.

Verse 2: "Blessed is the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to its going down, the LORD'S name is to be praised. The LORD is high above all nations…." (vs 2-4).

What does it say about the mountain of God? It's going to be higher. Mount of Olives is going to be higher than the rest of the mountains of the world.

On that's going to be that big tabernacle. So we don't know exactly how all of that is going to be, but that's going to be marvelous, indeed, when we see it.

"…and His glory above the heavens. Who is like the LORD our God, Who dwells on high, Who looks down low upon the heavens and upon the earth?" (vs 4-6).

Well, all during the Millennium, the Father is still going to be in heaven because the Father is not going to come to the earth until there's no more sin.

Let's look at another one and remember this: we're the called, we're the chosen, we're the faithful!

Think about this: all of us now who are the spirit sons and daughters of God and we pray to God every day, we probably can talk to God in a more direct way. We don't know how that's going to be, but Jesus is going to be King over all the earth and He is going to delegate to us all of the responsibilities of bringing people into the Kingdom of God during the Millennium. Now think about that! He's going to give His Spirit and the Spirit of the Father to all of those who were converted.

Psalm 147:1: "O praise the LORD, for it is good to sing praises to our God, for praise is pleasant and becoming. The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by their names. Great is our LORD and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite" (vs 1-5).

That's how the Millennium's going to be and in this case we see there's God the Father, He's yet to come, there's Jesus Christ, the Tabernacle, all of the patriarchs and Christ there in Jerusalem and whoever else is going to be there. Then all of the saints of God ruling in the cities and ruling in the nations to bring the Truth of God and help many people come to conversion.

How long do they live and will there be sin and what will happen to the sinners?

(break@42:58)

Will there be sin during the Millennium by the physical people living on the earth? Since there is free moral agency, yes, there will be sin!

That's all going to be based on choice, just like in the beginning with Adam and Eve.

What did God say? It gets down to the simple little phrase: obey my voice!

He gave them all the instructions that they needed. He told them about the Tree of Life and He told them about the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

He said that 'in the day that you eat thereof of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, in dying you shall surely die.'

That is true all the way through. Unrepentant sinners we know will die the second death. So, this shows this. There will be choices and we will have to make them.

When you go against God's Law, you sin! When there is sin, there must be repentance and restoration. We will see that is something that will probably take place without a doubt. Here's something in Deut. 30 that is always true through all time, through all covenants, spiritually and physically. This is a different way of describing what went on in the Garden of Eden.

Deuteronomy 30:15: "Behold, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil."

That will be all during the Millennium and all during the 100-year period, because that applies in all circumstances and every time in God's Plan.

Verse 16: "In that I command you this day to love the LORD your God…"

That's going to be the first thing we're going to be teaching. Teaching people to love God with all their heart, mind and soul. When they sin:

• to repent and receive forgiveness and restoration
• to love the Lord your God
• to walk in His way

That's what we will be saying to people as we find in Isa. 30 that the teachers will no longer be hidden.

They will be there. So, if you go to the right hand or to the left hand, you will be told, 'don't go there. walk in the way of God!

With free choice for those who are rebels, that's going to be hard to take. So we need to know how is that going to be handled? We'll get to that in a little bit!

"…to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments so that you may live and multiply…." (v 16).

In the Millennium that you may live and receive eternal life! That's what we're going to be teaching.

That's the whole purpose of it; to bring in many sons and many daughters. The Plan of God is so great that we can't even think in the terms that God thinks of. I mean, it's hard for us to think of a trillion, but how about trillions and quadrillions and however the number is beyond that, which God says that He knows all the stars by name and numbers.

So what is the purpose of all of that? That has to do with us. That has to do with the people coming in to the Kingdom of God spiritually during the Millennium.

"…so that you may live and multiply…" (v 16). That's quite a statement!,

Not only physically, but think of that spiritually. What God is doing is multiplying His spirit sons and daughters. That's going to be an innumerable number when it's all said and done.

"…And the LORD your God shall bless you in the land where you go to possess it" (v 16). They'll be living in the land!

• it will be the greatest
• it will be the most prosperous
• it will be the most productive
• it will be the most loving
• it will be the most obedient

that has ever been in the history of the world!

Verse 17: "But if…"

It shows the condition, there are choices to be made. We are to choose. We are to choose them as we teach them during the Millennium, that they are to choose:

• the way of God
• the way of His commandments
• the way of His statutes
• the way of His judgments

and bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Jesus Christ! That's going to be a spectacular thing to take place!

Verse 17: "But if your heart turn away…" showing that there is choice!

God is not going to take that away because God does not want robots.

• He wants people to love Him
• He wants people to serve Him
• He wants people to be converted
• He wants them as spirit sons and daughters

His Plan is so great that the whole universe is waiting!

Verse 17: "But if your heart turn away so that you will not hear, but shall be drawn away and worship other gods and serve them."

There won't be any other gods around at that time, so it will be a worshipping of your own self and your own way, or your own ideas and your own thoughts separate from God.

Verse 18: "I denounce to you this day that you shall surely perish…" The same thing He told Adam and Eve! 'In the day that you eat thereof in dying, you shall die.' Here it is.

"…you shall surely perish: you shall not prolong your days on the land… [nor receive eternal life] …where you pass over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you…" (vs 18-19).

This runs through everything of God's Plan everywhere, at all time. From the time of Adam and Eve until the time of the last ones into the Kingdom of God.

Verse 19: "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore, choose life, so that both you and your seed may live."

Now then, that goes to all the people, physical people during the Millennium. It goes to all of us who are entering into the Kingdom of God as spirit beings that we always, always, always love God and keep His commandments and understand His Word and live by it.

Verse 20 starts right out where we began at verse 16, to love God!

Verse 20: "That you may love the LORD your God, and may obey His voice…" Notice it says may and everything when it comes up with may means there's a choice!

We have to choose and we have to understand. That's why we have to bring down every thought that is hostile to God and bring it into captivity and cast it away, whatever it may be.

"…and may cleave to Him; for He is your life and the length of your days…" (v 20).

Think about that in relationship to eternal life!

"…so that you may dwell in the land, which the LORD swore to your fathers—to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob—to give it to them" (v 20). And that applies to the Kingdom of God, as well!

• What's going to happen to the sinner? Something has to happen to them!
• What about those who don't repent?
• How's it going to work? Well, we can get part of it coming back to Gen. 3 & 4!

Adam and Eve sinned!

What happened to them when they sinned? It isn't recorded that they repented, but God still did not abandon them because He was just beginning His Plan.

How did it start out? It started out that he created man and woman! He had prepared a garden for them to live in. And they lived with God, and they lived with God in the garden. He told them about the Tree of Life, and He told them about the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

When they took it upon themselves to decide for themselves, instead of:

• looking to God's leadership
• God's Truth
• God's commandments

they decided that they could do it themselves!

Now, Satan the devil was there to tempt them. During the Millennium, Satan the devil is not going to be around, so the circumstances will be substantially different. But the fact of choosing:

• right and wrong
• love and truth
• sin and disobedience will be the same

What happened when Adam and Eve sinned? They were removed from going into the Garden of Eden!

That means they were exiled, that is excluded from going in to the Garden of Eden. Now it appears that they could come to the east gate of the garden, where the cherubim were there with a sword to keep them from going in, a flaming sword. God would meet them there!

Now we don't know what kind of relationship that they had with God, but God was there to teach them certain fundamental basic things of living. Now then we find that Eve bore Cain and Abel. It turned out on the 135th year of their existence that Cain rose up and killed Abel. He was angry at Abel because God accepted Abel because his sacrifice was correct. In other words, Abel was obeying the voice of the Lord!

Cain's offering was not accepted because it wasn't according to the commands of God. So, Cain did not obey the voice of the Lord. he got angry and he killed his brother.

What did God say to Cain after he killed Abel? You're going to be removed to the land of wandering, a further exile, a further taking away! That's probably what's going to happen during the Millennium.

Now let's see that again. Look what happened with the time of the Flood, evil multiplied so much that the only way—because God had given free moral agency—everyone chose to go the way of Satan, the devil.

God had to destroy everything, but He saved through Noah and his family and the things on the ark. Everything was destroyed by the Flood and it was a worldwide flood.

We know from today that there are big holes that go deep into the earth where there is more water under the earth than there is covering the oceans today. So the Flood was real and it did happen. That brought out the wages of sin is death! And the wages of sin is the destruction of all your society, your cities, everyone living in them, because instead of coming to God, what did you do? Your thoughts were only evil continually because you abused your free moral agency.

We find the same thing in 2-Kings 16 concerning Israel. Now to say nothing between that time and Sodom and Gomorrah burned up because they wouldn't repent.

Let's see what happened because Israel sinned, went after Baal, went after the work of their own hands, set up their idols and rejected the way of God.

• What did God do to them?
• What happened to them?

Let's understand that we see it happening today in the world all around us; the same thing. In 2-Kings 17 we will see, again, an exiling, not just a few people, but all the 10 tribes of Israel!

2-Kings 17:22: "For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did. They did not depart from them until the LORD removed Israel out of His sight as He had said by all His servants the prophets…." (vs 22-23).

God always gives warning! During the Millennium with the people, we will say if you're sinning, 'this is the way to walk in it.' God never does anything without a warning! So here it is:

"…So, Israel was carried away out of their own land to Assyria, as it is to this day" (v 23).

They did that because they had sinned against God! Removed out because of their secret sins.

Now let's understand something that will probably be happening during the Millennium, as well.

Isaiah 65—this will be interesting indeed! The reason is because this will apply to the Millennium, as well as to the 100-year period pictured by the Last Great Day. This is the same thing that God will do when there is righteousness entering into the Kingdom of God. When there is sin, exile from the community.

We also understand, which we'll cover again in the Last Great Day, that it appears from the book of Revelation that the place of exile will be somewhere in Gog and Magog. That the sinner will go there if they don't repent and they will die there.

Isaiah 65:17: "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth….

Remember all the destruction that took place on the earth at the return of Christ? So it will be a new earth and a new heaven around the earth. I wonder what it's going to be like to get rid of all of the satellites out there. Think about that!

"…And the former things will not be remembered, nor come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and I will joy in My people; and the voice of weeping will no more be heard in her, nor the voice of crying" (vs 17-19).

Now that's just a summary of what's going to happen during the Millennium. You can't have sinners living in the same geographical area as the righteous. That's why God has exile!

Verse 20 tells us quite a bit: "There will not be an infant who lives but a few days… [they're going to have a full life] …nor an old man that has not filled his days."

Here's what becomes a little tricky. So let's stop right here and think about it for a minute. When Christ returns, the dead will be raised. The angels will take them in the clouds to meet Christ in the air on the Sea of Glass. Those who are alive and are converted Christians, will be changed in an instant, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye at the last trump.

So this gives us the precedent of what's going to happen to people during the Millennium who live to be a hundred years-old, as it says here. and are righteous. They will be instantly transformed into spirit beings. That will be a swift process of instantaneous death and restoration. Because it's given to all men once to die, and the sinner twice to die.

So, this has to happen. Let's read on here and see if we can understand it.

Verse 20: "There will not be an infant who lives but a few days, nor an old man that has not filled his days, for the child will die a hundred years old…"

Instant death and change into a spirit being IF they're righteous.

"…but the sinner who is a hundred years old shall be accursed" (v 20). That means he will die!

Now, if the sinners are removed from the society, then there has to be a place, which you might call the kingdom of sinners! What we have is this:

All during the Millennium, people have a chance to love God, keep His commandments, and to live the way that they should. When they sin, they'll have an opportunity to repent. What happens if they don't repent? They are removed from the immediate society! They probably go somewhere so they can have some time to fast, pray, study, recover and repent! What happens if they go there and they don't repent?

Then they have to be exiled—we will see that on the Last Great Day—to Gog and Magog. They live their life there. Now, is it possible for them when they get over there to repent and come back? Probably, because God always honors repentance!

But if they don't, they die accursed! Why? Because they will face the second death! The second death is the ultimate curse. So, that's what it means here!

That will be all during the Millennium, as we see that we have here. And later then, on the Last Great Day, we'll apply it again to the 100-year period. But this is where we get the 100-year period, right here. Those who are righteous, it says:

Verse 21: "And they will build houses and live in them; and they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They will not build, and another live in them; they will not plant, and another eat; for like the days of a tree are so will be the days of My people, and My elect will long enjoy the work of their hands" (vs 1-2).

That's what's going to happen during the Millennium, and that's going to be quite a thing when we understand that and put that all together.

Luke 15, something similar to it: the prodigal son. What's going to have to happen when they are removed from the society? They're going to have to repent and come to themselves!

Here again is the operation of free choice; the prodigal son.

Luke 15:11: "Then He said, 'A certain man had two sons.'" Always interesting, isn't it?

• What did we have with Adam and Eve? Two sons!
• What did we have with the birth of Jacob and Esau? Two sons!

Verse 12: "And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me that portion of the property which falls to me.' And he divided to them his living. And not many days after, the younger son gathered everything together and departed into a distant country" (vs 12-13).

He left being obedient to his father! He left the blessing that would be if he stayed there. He decided he's going to do what he's going to do. He is going to decide good and evil for himself and what he wants to do.

As we will find out, the same thing always happens because the Laws of God always work in all circumstances for blessing or for cursing. The cursing is punishment in hopes that we come to repentance!

So he "…departed into a distant country. And there he wasted all his substance, living in debauchery" (v13).

A quick summary of stupid choices. Though, whenever people make stupid choices, they think they can get away with it. If you don't believe that is true, look at the drug plague that's in the world today, and especially in America. Look at it with all of the things going on with all of the debauchery of sex that is taking place. They think that this is better than what they had, but they're going to find out it's going to lead to total disaster!

Those of us who are left here, we better stay close to God or the disaster will encompass us, too!

Now then, after a period of time, that's why you have exile. So you can be away from things and you can have time to think it over, and you can have time to examine what you did, and you can have time to repent. Let's see what happened here with the prodigal son:

Verse 14: "But after he had spent everything, there arose a severe famine throughout that country, and he began to be in need." Trial come upon him, and what a trial it was!

Verse 15: "Then he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

The worst possible occupation that a Jew can have is feeding swine!

Verse 16: "And he was longing to fill his stomach with the husks that the swine were eating, but no one gave anything to him." Rough time!

• Don't we all face rough times?
• Don't we all face difficulties that come upon us? Yes!
• What are those for? Those are to help draw us to God, to realize that:
  • only God can solve the problem
  • only God can change the circumstances
  • only God can open the door
  • only God can bring us repentance

This happens to everyone who sins, who's going to repent. This is the beginning of repentance!

Those who were sent off into exile, IF they learn their lesson, and they do what happens here with repentance, they can be restored.

Verse 17: "And when he came to himself…" That happens over a period of time! When you start out, you think:

Oh, this is great, wonderful, this is fine. Everything's going to work. Oh, I have done this and I've done that. I've done the other thing.

Then disaster strikes!

Then you see everything you've done is wrong! You see that all of that is sin. You begin to realize that you've got to turn to God. That's coming to yourself!

Verse 17: "And when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have an abundance of bread, and I am dying of hunger?'"

So, he's saying, 'Hey, I was stupid!' .

Verse 18: "I will arise and go to my father… [come out of exile] …and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.'"

Repentance! That's why it will be set up that way. That's what God wants! Repentance!

Verse 19: "'And I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion…" (vs 19-20).

That's how God deals with us! He's moved with compassion and love and goodness when anyone comes to repentance.

It even says that the angels in heaven rejoice! So, this is what it is. That's how it's going to be during the Millennium.

"…his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran and embraced him, and ardently kissed him. And his son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servant, 'Bring out a robe…'" (vs 20-22).

When there is complete repentance and there is complete yieldedness to God, the blessing of God will come! And it will come in a way that will be wonderful, indeed, just like this.

Verse 22: "But the father said to his servant, 'Bring out a robe, the best robe, and clothe him, and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet; and bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry'" (vs 22-23).

This shows God is pleased when anyone repents! So, all during the Millennium, we're going to have this kind of operation. People will have an opportunity to repent. If they don't, they will be placed in a place of repentance so they can overcome! And if not, at that place, then they're sent and exiled away! If they don't repent, they die and are accursed! IF they do repent, they can have a way back!

Verse 24: "'For this my son was dead, but is alive again; and he was lost, but is found.' And they began to be merry.'"

Now then, the other son didn't like this because he was always obedient. Then he started to get self-righteous and say, 'Well, look, Dad, you've never given me anything, not even a kid goat, that I could rejoice with my friends.

Verse 31: "Then he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.'"

'But this your brother has come back. So let's rejoice and make merry.' There's a lesson for all of us. This is how it's going to be in the Millennium.

There's God , there's Christ in Jerusalem; everything to set up rulership on the earth. There are all of us, the sons of God.

• we're going to be rulers in cities
• we're going to be rulers in countries
• we're going to be teachers
• we're going to be showing the people how to live

God is going to bless the whole world, bring back Israel out of captivity, restore the whole world to Him. For a thousand years, there's going to be the greatest production possible in bringing many sons under glory into the Kingdom of God.

That's our calling, brethren! That's the meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles. It has meaning:

• for God
• for Christ
• for the Church
• for the world
• for every individual

That's going to be a wonderful thing! As it says, His rest will be glorious!

Scriptural References:

• Isaiah 4:5-6
• Revelation 2:23-29
• Isaiah 60:1-5, 10-22
• Jeremiah 30:22-24
• Jeremiah 31:1-4
• Psalm 105:1-4
• Psalm 113:1-6
• Psalm 147:1-5
• Deuteronomy 30:15-20
• 2 Kings 17:22-23
• Isaiah 65:17-22
• Luke 15:11-24, 31

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Revelation 20
• Ezekiel 40
• Isaiah 61
• Acts 3
• Isaiah 30
• Genesis 3
• 2 Kings 16

FRC:bo/po
Transcribed: 8/1/23

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